CEREMONY CELEBRATES OLD HICKORY'S RETURN HOME

By Pfc. Michelle Nash, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment

RALEIGH – Thousands of friends, family and community members gathered at the RBC Center for the Welcome Home Ceremony of the 30^th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, April 11.

The nearly 4,000 Citizen Soldiers returned home approximately February 2010, after a nine-month deployment to Iraq.

Gov. Bev Perdue opened the ceremony by welcoming the troops home to the most military friendly state in America.

“You're the best of what North Carolina and this country is all about,” said Perdue,  “You continue to do the tough jobs, in the tough places, so the rest of us can enjoy the blessings of calling America home.”

The Soldiers and their families were recognized for their support and commitment to helping Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 30^th HBCT, known as “Old Hickory,” made history with its second deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  It is the first National Guard Brigade to deploy twice and to have its own Area of Operations.

Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., the Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard, addressed the Soldiers of “Old Hickory” and declared their unique roll in writing history.

“Today's ceremony brings a closure to this particular mission, now it becomes a part of history,” said Ingram, “Your accomplishments have permanently written new chapters in the history of your unit, the United States Army and our Republic.”

Col. Gregory A. Lusk, 30^th HBCT Commander, brought the ceremony to a close and highlighted the Brigades accomplishments.

“This is indeed an ‘Old Hickory' team that has made its mark in history and significantly contributed to a noble endeavor,” said Lusk.

During their deployment, the 30^th HBCT partnered with the Iraqi Security Forces to carry out combined security operations and civil capacity improvement.

The Brigade brought hope to the region with water, school, road, sewer and electrical projects.  The Brigade Soldiers' farming expertise also aided local agribusiness projects.

But taking the fight to the enemy did not come without a cost.

The 30^th HBCT suffered 29 wounded in action and seven killed in action.  Five of those killed were North Carolina National Guard Soldiers.

The Brigade is made of two combined arms battalions, an artillery battalion, a special troops battalion and a brigade support battalion located in armories across eastern and central North Carolina and an armored reconnaissance squadron in West Virginia and for this deployment, a military intelligence company from Colorado.  The 30^th is headquartered in Clinton, N.C.